|   | 
      
      
        |   | 
      
      
        | 
           		
			 | 
        
          A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          AN ACT
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        relating to the promotion of efficiencies in and the administration  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        of certain district court and county services and functions. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 1.  Section 144.041, Agriculture Code, is amended by  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        adding Subsection (h) to read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (h)  A county clerk may accept electronic filing or  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        rerecording of an earmark, brand, tattoo, electronic device, or  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        other type of mark for which a recording is required under this  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        chapter or other law. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 2.  Chapter 2, Code of Criminal Procedure, is  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        amended by adding Article 2.31 to read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Art. 2.31.  COUNTY JAILERS.  A jailer licensed under Chapter  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        1701, Occupations Code, may execute lawful process issued to the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        jailer by any magistrate or court on a person confined in the jail  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        at which the jailer is employed to the same extent that a peace  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        officer is authorized to execute process under Article 2.13(b)(2),  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        including: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  a warrant under Chapter 15, 17, or 18; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  a capias under Chapter 17 or 23; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (3)  a subpoena under Chapter 20 or 24; or | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (4)  an attachment under Chapter 20 or 24. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 3.  Article 20.011(a), Code of Criminal Procedure,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        is amended to read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (a)  Only the following persons may be present in a grand  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        jury room while the grand jury is conducting proceedings: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  grand jurors; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  bailiffs; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (3)  the attorney representing the state; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (4)  witnesses while being examined or when necessary  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        to assist the attorney representing the state in examining other  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        witnesses or presenting evidence to the grand jury; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (5)  interpreters, if necessary; [and] | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (6)  a stenographer or person operating an electronic  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        recording device, as provided by Article 20.012; and | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (7)  a person operating a video teleconferencing system  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        for use under  Article 20.151. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 4.  Article 20.02(b), Code of Criminal Procedure, is  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        amended to read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  A grand juror, bailiff, interpreter, stenographer or  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        person operating an electronic recording device, [or] person  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        preparing a typewritten transcription of a stenographic or  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        electronic recording, or person operating a video teleconferencing  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        system for use under Article 20.151 who discloses anything  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        transpiring before the grand jury, regardless of whether the thing  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        transpiring is recorded, in the course of the official duties of the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        grand jury, is [shall be] liable to a fine as for contempt of the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        court, not exceeding $500 [five hundred dollars], imprisonment not  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        exceeding 30 [thirty] days, or both the [such] fine and  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        imprisonment. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 5.  Chapter 20, Code of Criminal Procedure, is  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        amended by adding Article 20.151 to read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Art. 20.151.  CERTAIN TESTIMONY BY VIDEO TELECONFERENCING.   | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        (a)  With the consent of the foreman of the grand jury and the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        attorney representing the state, a peace officer summoned to  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        testify before the grand jury may testify through the use of a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        closed circuit video teleconferencing system that provides an  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        encrypted, simultaneous, compressed full motion video and  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        interactive communication of image and sound between the peace  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        officer, the attorney representing the state, and the grand jury. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  In addition to being administered the oath described by  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Article 20.16(a), before being interrogated, a peace officer  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        testifying through the use of a closed circuit video  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        teleconferencing system under this article shall affirm that: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  no person other than a person in the grand jury  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        room is capable of hearing the peace officer's testimony; and | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  the peace officer's testimony is not being  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        recorded or otherwise preserved by any person at the location from  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        which the peace officer is testifying. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (c)  Testimony received from a peace officer under this  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        article shall be recorded and preserved. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 6.  Article 27.18, Code of Criminal Procedure, is  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        amended by amending Subsection (c) and adding Subsections (c-1) and  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        (c-2) to read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (c)  A recording of the communication shall be made and  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        preserved until all appellate proceedings have been disposed of.  A  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        court reporter or court recorder is not required to transcribe or  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        make a separate recording of a plea taken under this article unless  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        an appeal is taken in the case and a party requests a transcript. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (c-1)  The defendant may obtain a copy of a [the] recording  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        made under Subsection (c) on payment of a reasonable amount to cover  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the costs of reproduction or, if the defendant is indigent, the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        court shall provide a copy to the defendant without charging a cost  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        for the copy. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (c-2)  The loss or destruction of or failure to make a video  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        recording of a plea entered under this article is not alone  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        sufficient grounds for a defendant to withdraw the defendant's plea  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        or to request the court to set aside a conviction, sentence, or  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        plea. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 7.  Article 38.073, Code of Criminal Procedure, is  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        amended to read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Art. 38.073.  TESTIMONY OF INMATE WITNESSES.  In a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        proceeding in the prosecution of a criminal offense in which an  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        inmate in the custody of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice is  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        required to testify as a witness, any deposition or testimony of the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        inmate witness may be conducted by a video teleconferencing system  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        in the manner described by Article 27.18 [electronic means, in the 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          same manner as permitted in civil cases under Section 30.012, Civil 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          Practice and Remedies Code]. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 8.  Article 49.25, Code of Criminal Procedure, is  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        amended by adding Section 13A to read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 13A.  FEES.  (a)  A medical examiner may charge  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        reasonable fees for services provided by the office of medical  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        examiner under this article, including cremation approvals, court  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        testimonies, consultations, and depositions. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  The commissioners court must approve the amount of the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        fee before the fee may be assessed.  The fee may not exceed the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        amount necessary to provide the services described by Subsection  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        (a). | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (c)  The fee may not be assessed against the county's  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        district attorney or a county office. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 9.  Section 31.037, Election Code, is amended to  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 31.037.  SUSPENSION OR TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT.  The  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        employment of the county elections administrator may be suspended,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        with or without pay, or terminated at any time for good and  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        sufficient cause on the four-fifths vote of the county election  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        commission and approval of that action by a majority vote of the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        commissioners court. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 10.  Section 43.007(i), Election Code, is amended to  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (i)  The secretary of state may only select to participate in  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the program six [three] counties with a population of 100,000 or  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        more and four [two] counties with a population of less than 100,000. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 11.  Section 203.005(b), Family Code, is amended to  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  The first payment of a fee under Subsection (a)(5)  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        [(a)(4)] is due on the date that the person required to pay support  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        is ordered to begin child support, alimony, or separate maintenance  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        payments.  Subsequent payments of the fee are due annually and in  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        advance. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 12.  Sections 51.318(b) and (e), Government Code,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        are amended to read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  The fees are: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  for issuing a subpoena, including one copy$8 | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  for issuing a citation, commission for deposition,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        writ of execution, order of sale, writ of execution and order of  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        sale, writ of injunction, writ of garnishment, writ of attachment,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        or writ of sequestration not provided for in Section 51.317, or any  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        other writ or process not otherwise provided for, including one  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        copy if required by law$8 | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (3)  for searching files or records to locate a cause  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        when the docket number is not provided$5 | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (4)  for searching files or records to ascertain the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        existence of an instrument or record in the district clerk's  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        office$5 | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (5)  for abstracting a judgment$8 | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (6)  for approving a bond$4 | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (7)  for a certified copy of a record, judgment, order,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        pleading, or paper on file or of record in the district clerk's  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        office, including certificate and seal, for each page or part of a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        page not to exceed $1 | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (8)  for a noncertified copy, for each page or part of a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        page not to exceed $1. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (e)  The district clerk may not charge [the] United States  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Immigration and Customs Enforcement or United States Citizenship  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        and Immigration Services [Naturalization Service] a fee for a copy  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        of any document on file or of record in the clerk's office relating  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        to an individual's criminal history, regardless of whether the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        document is certified. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 13.  Section 57.002, Government Code, is amended by  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        adding Subsection (d-1) to read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (d-1)  Subject to Subsection (e), a court in a county to  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        which Section 21.021, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, applies may  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        appoint a spoken language interpreter who is not a licensed court  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        interpreter. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 14.  Section 101.0611, Government Code, is amended  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        to read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 101.0611.  DISTRICT COURT FEES AND COSTS: GOVERNMENT  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        CODE.  The clerk of a district court shall collect fees and costs  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        under the Government Code as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  appellate judicial system filing fees for: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                           (A)  First or Fourteenth Court of Appeals District  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        (Sec. 22.2021, Government Code) . . . not more than $5; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                           (B)  Second Court of Appeals District (Sec.  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        22.2031, Government Code) . . . not more than $5; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                           (C)  Third Court of Appeals District (Sec.  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        22.2041, Government Code) . . . $5; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                           (D)  Fourth Court of Appeals District (Sec.  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        22.2051, Government Code) . . . not more than $5; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                           (E)  Fifth Court of Appeals District (Sec.  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        22.2061, Government Code) . . . not more than $5; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                           (F)  Ninth Court of Appeals District (Sec.  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        22.2101, Government Code) . . . $5; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                           (G)  Eleventh Court of Appeals District (Sec.  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        22.2121, Government Code) . . . $5; and | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                           (H)  Thirteenth Court of Appeals District (Sec.  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        22.2141, Government Code) . . . not more than $5; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  when administering a case for the Rockwall County  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Court at Law (Sec. 25.2012, Government Code) . . . civil fees and  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        court costs as if the case had been filed in district court; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (3)  additional filing fees: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                           (A)  for each suit filed for insurance contingency  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        fund, if authorized by the county commissioners court (Sec. 51.302,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Government Code) . . . not to exceed $5; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                           (B)  to fund the improvement of Dallas County  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        civil court facilities, if authorized by the county commissioners  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        court (Sec. 51.705, Government Code) . . . not more than $15; and | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                           (C)  to fund the improvement of Hays County court  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        facilities, if authorized by the county commissioners court (Sec.  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        51.707, Government Code) . . . not more than $15; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (4)  for filing a suit, including an appeal from an  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        inferior court: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                           (A)  for a suit with 10 or fewer plaintiffs (Sec.  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        51.317, Government Code) . . . $50; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                           (B)  for a suit with at least 11 but not more than  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        25 plaintiffs (Sec. 51.317, Government Code) . . . $75; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                           (C)  for a suit with at least 26 but not more than  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        100 plaintiffs (Sec. 51.317, Government Code) . . . $100; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                           (D)  for a suit with at least 101 but not more than  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        500 plaintiffs (Sec. 51.317, Government Code) . . . $125; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                           (E)  for a suit with at least 501 but not more than  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        1,000 plaintiffs (Sec. 51.317, Government Code) . . . $150; or | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                           (F)  for a suit with more than 1,000 plaintiffs  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        (Sec. 51.317, Government Code) . . . $200; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (5)  for filing a cross-action, counterclaim,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        intervention, contempt action, motion for new trial, or third-party  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        petition (Sec. 51.317, Government Code) . . . $15; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (6)  for issuing a citation or other writ or process not  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        otherwise provided for, including one copy, when requested at the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        time a suit or action is filed (Sec. 51.317, Government Code) . . .  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        $8; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (7)  for records management and preservation (Sec.  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        51.317, Government Code) . . . $10; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (8)  for issuing a subpoena, including one copy (Sec.  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        51.318, Government Code) . . . $8; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (9)  for issuing a citation, commission for deposition,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        writ of execution, order of sale, writ of execution and order of  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        sale, writ of injunction, writ of garnishment, writ of attachment,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        or writ of sequestration not provided for in Section 51.317, or any  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        other writ or process not otherwise provided for, including one  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        copy if required by law (Sec. 51.318, Government Code) . . . $8; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (10)  for searching files or records to locate a cause  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        when the docket number is not provided (Sec. 51.318, Government  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Code) . . . $5; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (11)  for searching files or records to ascertain the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        existence of an instrument or record in the district clerk's office  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        (Sec. 51.318, Government Code) . . . $5; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (12)  for abstracting a judgment (Sec. 51.318,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Government Code) . . . $8; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (13)  for approving a bond (Sec. 51.318, Government  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Code) . . . $4; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (14)  for a certified copy of a record, judgment,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        order, pleading, or paper on file or of record in the district  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        clerk's office, including certificate and seal, for each page or  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        part of a page (Sec. 51.318, Government Code) . . . not to exceed  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        $1; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (15)  for a noncertified copy, for each page or part of  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        a page (Sec. 51.318, Government Code) . . . not to exceed $1; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (16)  fee for performing a service: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                           (A)  related to the matter of the estate of a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        deceased person (Sec. 51.319, Government Code) . . . the same fee  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        allowed the county clerk for those services; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                           (B)  related to the matter of a minor (Sec.  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        51.319, Government Code) . . . the same fee allowed the county  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        clerk for the service; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                           (C)  of serving process by certified or registered  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        mail (Sec. 51.319, Government Code) . . . the same fee a sheriff or  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        constable is authorized to charge for the service under Section  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        118.131, Local Government Code; and | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                           (D)  prescribed or authorized by law but for which  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        no fee is set (Sec. 51.319, Government Code) . . . a reasonable fee; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (17)  jury fee (Sec. 51.604, Government Code) . . .  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        $30; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (18)  additional filing fee for family protection on  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        filing a suit for dissolution of a marriage under Chapter 6, Family  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Code (Sec. 51.961, Government Code) . . . not to exceed $15; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (19)  at a hearing held by an associate judge in Dallas  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        County, a court cost to preserve the record, in the absence of a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        court reporter, by other means (Sec. 54.509, Government Code) . . .  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        as assessed by the referring court or associate judge; and | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (20)  at a hearing held by an associate judge in Duval  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        County, a court cost to preserve the record (Sec. 54.1151,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Government Code) . . . as imposed by the referring court or  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        associate judge. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 15.  Section 551.0415, Government Code, is amended  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        to read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 551.0415.  GOVERNING BODY OF MUNICIPALITY OR COUNTY:  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        REPORTS ABOUT ITEMS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST REGARDING WHICH NO ACTION  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        WILL BE TAKEN.  (a)  Notwithstanding Sections 551.041 and 551.042, a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        quorum of the governing body of a municipality or county may receive  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        from municipal or county staff and a member of the governing body  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        may make a report about items of community interest during a meeting  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        of the governing body without having given notice of the subject of  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the report as required by this subchapter if no action is taken and,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        except as provided by Section 551.042, possible action is not  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        discussed regarding the information provided in the report. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  For purposes of Subsection (a), "items of community  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        interest" includes: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  expressions of thanks, congratulations, or  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        condolence; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  information regarding holiday schedules; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (3)  an honorary or salutary recognition of a public  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        official, public employee, or other citizen, except that a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        discussion regarding a change in the status of a person's public  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        office or public employment is not an honorary or salutary  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        recognition for purposes of this subdivision; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (4)  a reminder about an upcoming event organized or  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        sponsored by the governing body; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (5)  information regarding a social, ceremonial, or  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        community event organized or sponsored by an entity other than the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        governing body that was attended or is scheduled to be attended by a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        member of the governing body or an official or employee of the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        municipality or county; and | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (6)  announcements involving an imminent threat to the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        public health and safety of people in the municipality or county  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        that has arisen after the posting of the agenda. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 16.  Section 551.0725(a), Government Code, is  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        amended to read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (a)  The commissioners court of a county [with a population 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          of 400,000 or more] may conduct a closed meeting to deliberate  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        business and financial issues relating to a contract being  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        negotiated if, before conducting the closed meeting: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  the commissioners court votes unanimously that  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        deliberation in an open meeting would have a detrimental effect on  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the position of the commissioners court in negotiations with a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        third person; and | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  the attorney advising the commissioners court  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        issues a written determination that deliberation in an open meeting  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        would have a detrimental effect on the position of the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        commissioners court in negotiations with a third person. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 17.  Section 61.002(5), Health and Safety Code, is  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        amended to read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (5)  "General revenue levy" means: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                           (A)  the property taxes imposed by a county that  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        are not dedicated to: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                                 (i)  the construction and maintenance of  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        farm-to-market roads under Article VIII, Section 1-a, Texas  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Constitution; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                                 (ii)  [or to] flood control under Article  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        VIII, Section 1-a, [of the] Texas Constitution; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                                 (iii)  [or that are not dedicated to] the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        further maintenance of the public roads under Article VIII, Section  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        9, [of the] Texas Constitution; or | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                                 (iv)  the payment of principal or interest  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        on county debt; and | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                           (B)  the sales and use tax revenue to be received  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        by the county during the calendar year in which the state fiscal  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        year begins under Chapter 323, Tax Code, as determined under  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Section 26.041(d), Tax Code. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 18.  Section 132.002(a), Local Government Code, is  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        amended to read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (a)  The commissioners court of a county may authorize a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        county or precinct officer who collects fees, fines, court costs,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        or other charges on behalf of the county or the state to accept  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        payment by credit card or by the electronic processing of checks of  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        a fee, fine, court costs, or other charge.  The commissioners court  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        may also authorize a county or precinct officer to collect and  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        retain a fee for processing the payment by credit card or by the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        electronic processing of checks. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 19.  Subchapter Z, Chapter 157, Local Government  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Code, is amended by adding Section 157.9031 to read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 157.9031.  AUTHORITY TO REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT FOR  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        CERTAIN COVERAGE.  A self-insuring county or the intergovernmental  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        pool operating under Chapter 119, under policies concerning the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        provision of coverages adopted by the county's commissioners court  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        or the pool's governing body, may require reimbursement for the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        provision of punitive damage coverage from a person to whom the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        county or intergovernmental pool provides coverage. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 20.  Sections 270.007(b) and (f), Local Government  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Code, are amended to read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  A [Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsections (f) 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          and (g), a] county may exclusively contract with a person to market  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the application or system. If the original contract for development  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        of the application or system under Subsection (a) does not include a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        provision for marketing the application or system, a [A] contract  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        under this subsection shall be awarded [only] in compliance with  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Section 262.030, [Local Government Code,] concerning the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        alternative competitive procedure for insurance or high technology  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        items. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (f)  Except as provided by Subsection (b), [upon request of 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          any person,] a county may [shall] sell or license software under  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        this section for a price negotiated between the county and the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        purchaser or licensee, including another governmental entity  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        [person, not to exceed the developmental cost to the county.  
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          Developmental cost shall only include costs incurred under a 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          contract to procure the software or direct employee costs incurred 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          to develop the software.  This subsection does not apply to any 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          county software that protects county computer systems from 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          unauthorized use or access]. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 21.  Section 352.081(e), Local Government Code, is  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        amended to read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (e)  An order adopted under this section expires, as  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        applicable, on the date: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  a determination is made under Subsection (b) that  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        drought conditions no longer exist; or | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  a determination is made by the commissioners  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        court, or the county judge or fire marshal if designated for that  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        purpose by the commissioners court, that the circumstances  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        identified under Subsection (c)(2) no longer exist. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 22.  Section 387.003, Local Government Code, is  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        amended by amending Subsections (a), (b), (b-1), (c), (e), (f), and  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        (h) and adding Subsections (a-1), (i), and (j) to read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (a)  The commissioners court of the county may call an  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        election on the question of creating a county assistance district  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        under this chapter. More than one county assistance district may be  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        created in a county, but not more than one district may be created  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        in a commissioners precinct. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (a-1)  A district may [to] perform the following functions in  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the district: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  the construction, maintenance, or improvement of  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        roads or highways; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  the provision of law enforcement and detention  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        services; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (3)  the maintenance or improvement of libraries,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        museums, parks, or other recreational facilities; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (4)  the provision of services that benefit the public  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        health or welfare, including the provision of firefighting and fire  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        prevention services; or | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (5)  the promotion of economic development and tourism. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  The order calling the election must: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  define the boundaries of the district to include  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        any portion of the county in which the combined tax rate of all  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        local sales and use taxes imposed, including the rate to be imposed  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        by the district if approved at the election, would not exceed the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        maximum combined rate of sales and use taxes imposed by political  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        subdivisions of this state that is prescribed by Sections 321.101  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        and 323.101, Tax Code [two percent]; and | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  call for the election to be held within those  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        boundaries. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b-1)  If the proposed district includes any territory of a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        municipality, the commissioners court shall send notice by  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        certified mail to the governing body of the municipality of the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        commissioners court's intent to create the district.  If the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        municipality has created a development corporation under Chapter  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        504 or 505, the commissioners court shall also send the notice to  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the board of directors of the corporation.  The commissioners court  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        must send the notice not later than the 60th day before the date the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        commissioners court orders the election.  The governing body of the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        municipality may exclude the territory of the municipality from the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        proposed district by sending notice by certified mail to the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        commissioners court of the governing body's desire to exclude the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        municipal territory from the district.  The governing body must  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        send the notice not later than the 45th day after the date the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        governing body receives notice from the commissioners court under  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        this subsection.  The territory of a municipality that is excluded  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        under this subsection may subsequently be included in: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  the district in an election held under Subsection  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        (f) with the consent of the municipality; or | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  another district after complying with the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        requirements of this subsection and after an election under  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Subsection (f). | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (c)  The ballot at the election must be printed to permit  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        voting for or against the proposition:  "Authorizing the creation  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        of the ____ County Assistance District No.___ (insert name of  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        district) and the imposition of a sales and use tax at the rate of  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        ____ [of one] percent (insert [one-eighth, one-fourth, 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          three-eighths, or one-half, as] appropriate rate) for the purpose  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        of financing the operations of the district." | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (e)  If a majority of the votes received at the election are  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        against the creation of the district, the district is not created  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        and the county at any time may call one or more elections [another 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          election] on the question of creating one or more [a] county  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        assistance districts [district may not be held in the county before 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          the first anniversary of the most recent election concerning the 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          creation of a district]. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (f)  The commissioners court may call an election to be held  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        in an area of the county that is not located in a district created  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        under this section to determine whether the area should be included  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        in the district and whether the district's sales and use tax should  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        be imposed in the area.  An election may not be held in an area in  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        which the combined tax rate of all local sales and use taxes  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        imposed, including the rate to be imposed by the district if  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        approved at the election, would exceed the maximum combined rate of  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        sales and use taxes imposed by political subdivisions of this state  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        that is prescribed by Sections 321.101 and 323.101, Tax Code [two 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          percent]. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (h)  If more than one election to authorize a local sales and  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        use tax is held on the same day in the area of a proposed district or  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        an area proposed to be added to a district and if the resulting  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        approval by the voters would cause the imposition of a local sales  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        and use tax in any area to exceed the maximum combined rate of sales  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        and use taxes of political subdivisions of this state that is  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        prescribed by Sections 321.101 and 323.101, Tax Code [two percent],  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        only a tax authorized at an election under this section may be  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        imposed. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (i)  In addition to the authority to include an area in a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        district under Subsection (f), the governing body of a district by  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        order may include an area in the district on receipt of a petition  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        or petitions signed by the owner or owners of the majority of the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        land in the area to be included in the district.  If there are no  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        registered voters in the area to be included in the district, no  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        election is required. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (j)  The commissioners court by order may exclude an area  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        from the district if the district has no outstanding bonds payable  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        wholly or partly from sales and use taxes and the exclusion does not  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        impair any outstanding district debt or contractual obligation. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 23.  Section 387.005, Local Government Code, is  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        amended to read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 387.005.  GOVERNING BODY.  (a)  The commissioners court  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        of the county in which the district is created by order shall  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        provide that: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  the commissioners court is the governing body of  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the district; or | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  the commissioners court shall appoint a governing  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        body of the district. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  A member of the governing body of the district  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        [commissioners court] is not entitled to compensation for service  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        [on the governing body of the district] but is entitled to  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (c)  A board of directors appointed by the commissioners  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        court under this section shall consist of five directors who serve  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        staggered terms of two years.  To be eligible to serve as a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        director, a person must be at least 18 years of age and a resident of  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the county in which the district is located.  The initial directors  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        shall draw lots to achieve staggered terms, with three of the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        directors serving one-year terms and two of the directors serving  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        two-year terms. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 24.  Section 387.006(a), Local Government Code, is  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        amended to read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (a)  A district may: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  perform any act necessary to the full exercise of  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the district's functions; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  accept a grant or loan from: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                           (A)  the United States; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                           (B)  an agency or political subdivision of this  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        state;  or | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                           (C)  a public or private person; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (3)  acquire, sell, lease, convey, or otherwise dispose  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        of property or an interest in property under terms determined by the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        district; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (4)  employ necessary personnel;  [and] | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (5)  adopt rules to govern the operation of the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        district and its employees and property; and | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (6)  enter into agreements with municipalities  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        necessary or convenient to achieve the district's purposes,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        including agreements regarding the duration, rate, and allocation  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        between the district and the municipality of sales and use taxes. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 25.  Section 387.007(b), Local Government Code, is  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        amended to read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  A district may not adopt a sales and use tax under this  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        chapter if the adoption of the tax would result in a combined tax  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        rate of all local sales and use taxes that would exceed the maximum  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        combined rate prescribed by Sections 321.101 and 323.101, Tax Code,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        [of more than two percent] in any location in the district. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 26.  Section 387.009, Local Government Code, is  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        amended to read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 387.009.  TAX RATE.  The rate of a tax adopted under  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        this chapter must be in increments of one-eighth[, one-fourth, 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          three-eighths, or one-half] of one percent. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 27.  Sections 387.010(a), (b), and (c), Local  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Government Code, are amended to read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (a)  A district that has adopted a sales and use tax under  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        this chapter may, by order and subject to Section 387.007(b): | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  reduce [, change] the rate of the tax or repeal the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        tax without an election, except that the district may not repeal the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        sales and use tax or reduce the rate of the sales and use tax below  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the amount pledged to secure payment of an outstanding district  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        debt or contractual obligation; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  increase the rate of the sales and use tax, if the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        increased rate of the sales and use tax will not exceed the rate  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        approved at an election held under Section 387.003; or | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (3)  increase the rate of the sales and use tax to a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        rate that exceeds the rate approved at an election held under  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Section 387.003 after [if] the increase [change or repeal] is  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        approved by a majority of the votes received in the district at an  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        election held for that purpose. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  The tax may be changed under Subsection (a) in one or  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        more increments of one-eighth of one percent [to a maximum of 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          one-half of one percent]. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (c)  The ballot for an election to increase [change] the tax  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        shall be printed to permit voting for or against the proposition:   | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        "The increase [change] of a sales and use tax for the ____ County  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Assistance District No. ___ (insert name of district) from the rate  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        of ____ [of one] percent (insert [one-fourth, three-eighths, or 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          one-half, as] appropriate rate) to the rate of ____ [of one] percent  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        (insert [one-fourth, three-eighths, or one-half, as] appropriate  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        rate)." | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 28.  Section 387.012, Local Government Code, is  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        amended to read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 387.012.  EFFECTIVE DATE OF TAX.  The adoption of the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        tax, the increase or reduction [change] of the tax rate, or the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        repeal of the tax takes effect on the first day of the first  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        calendar quarter occurring after the expiration of the first  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        complete quarter occurring after the date the comptroller receives  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        a copy of the order of the district's governing body [notice of the 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          results of the election] adopting, increasing, reducing  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        [changing], or repealing the tax. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 29.  Chapter 51, Property Code, is amended by adding  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Section 51.0022 to read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 51.0022.  FORECLOSURE DATA COLLECTION.  (a) In this  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        section, "department" means the Texas Department of Housing and  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Community Affairs. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  A person filing a notice of sale of residential property  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        under Section 51.002(b) must submit to the county clerk a completed  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        form that provides the zip code for the property. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (c)  On completion of a sale of real property, the trustee or  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        sheriff shall submit to the county clerk a completed form that  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        contains information on whether the property is residential and the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        zip code of the property. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (d)  Not later than the 30th day after the date of receipt of  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        a form under this section, the county clerk shall transmit the form  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        to the department. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (e)  The board of the department shall prescribe the forms  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        required under this section.  The forms may only request  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        information on whether the property is residential and the zip code  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        of the property. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (f)  The department shall report the information received  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        under this section quarterly to the legislature in a format  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        established by the board of the department by rule. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 30.   Sections 86.022, 112.008, and 387.010(d),  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Local Government Code, are repealed. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 31.  (a)  Articles 20.011(a) and 20.02(b), Code of  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Criminal Procedure, as amended by this Act, and Article 20.151,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Code of Criminal Procedure, as added by this Act, apply only to  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        testimony before a grand jury that is impaneled on or after the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        effective date of this Act. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  Article 27.18, Code of Criminal Procedure, as amended by  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        this Act, applies to a plea of guilty or nolo contendere entered on  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        or after the effective date of this Act, regardless of whether the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        offense with reference to which the plea is entered is committed  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        before, on, or after that date. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (c)  Article 38.073, Code of Criminal Procedure, as amended  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        by this Act, applies only to the testimony of an inmate witness that  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        is taken on or after the effective date of this Act. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (d)  Section 13A, Article 49.25, Code of Criminal Procedure,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        as added by this Act, applies only to a service provided by a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        medical examiner's office on or after the effective date of this  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Act.  A service provided before the effective date of this Act is  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        covered by the law in effect on the date the service was provided,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (e)  Sections 51.318(b) and 101.0611, Government Code, as  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        amended by this Act, apply only to a request for a certified copy of  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        a record, judgment, order, pleading, or paper on file or of record  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        in the district clerk's office, including certificate and seal,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        made on or after the effective date of this Act.  A request made  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        before the effective date of this Act is covered by the law in  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        effect when the request was made, and the former law is continued in  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        effect for that purpose. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (f)  Section 57.002(d-1), Government Code, as added by this  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Act, applies only to the appointment of a court interpreter under  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Chapter 57, Government Code, as amended by this Act, on or after the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        effective date of this Act. The appointment of a court interpreter  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        effect when the interpreter was appointed, and the former law is  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        continued in effect for that purpose. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (g)  Section 551.0725(a), Government Code, as amended by  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        this Act, applies only to a meeting held on or after the effective  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        date of this Act. A meeting held before the effective date of this  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the meeting is held,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (h)  Sections 270.007(b) and (f), Local Government Code, as  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        amended by this Act, apply only to a contract entered into on or  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        after the effective date of this Act.  A contract entered into  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        effect when the contract was entered into, and the former law is  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        continued in effect for that purpose. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (i)  The board of the Texas Department of Housing and  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Community Affairs shall adopt the forms and rules required by  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Section 51.0022, Property Code, as added by this Act, not later than  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        January 1, 2012. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (j)  The change in law made by Section 51.0022, Property   | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Code, as added by this Act, applies only to a notice of sale filed on  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        or after January 1, 2012.  A notice of sale filed before  January 1,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        2012, is governed by the law in effect immediately before the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        effective date of this Act, and the former law is continued in  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        effect for that purpose. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 32.  This Act takes effect immediately if it  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.   | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |